Silmser should return

Editor

Friday, February 02, 2007 - 10:00 

Editorials - The Cornwall Public Inquiry screeched to a halt Thursday morning when a witness decided he'd had enough cross-examination at the hands of his alleged abuser's lawyer and stormed off the stand. 

While we understand and sympathize with David Silmser, it's our hope and the hope of just about everybody associated with the inquiry he'll return to the stand Monday. 

For those who have been victimized, the process of testifying at the inquiry must be a very difficult one. Experts say it's one of the worst experience many victims will face in their lives, second only to the abuse itself. 

When the provincial government commissioned this inquiry, everyone knew the road ahead would not be an easy one to travel for the victims, many of whom have already felt revictimized by lengthy court processes in the past. 

And for each and every victim who has come forward so far to tell their important and compelling stories, this process has not been easy. Many times victims have broken down on the witness stand as memories flood back and they are forced to return to a time in their lives when they felt scared, vulnerable, hurt and even abandoned.

But they've done it. They've sat there and answered the questions put to them despite what was likely a strong desire to just get up, put their coats on and go home. We hope Silmser will take a few days to rest before returning to the inquiry Monday. We hope he will find the strength to see this process through to the end. 

His story of how public institutions failed him and his family is too important not to be heard. The lawyers must hear it; the judge must hear it; the community must hear it.

Inquiry officials will not be able to say every stone was overturned in the quest for the truth unless they hear everything David Silmser and the other victims have to say.